BCS NOTES: Florida State has Auburn connection

NEWPORT BEACH >> Florida State hasn’t faced Auburn, who it meets Monday for the Bowl Championship Series national title at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, in nearly a quarter of a century. But the Seminoles do have vast knowledge of the Tigers.

Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher, who replaced legend Bobby Bowden prior to the 2010 season, was Auburn’s quarterback coach for six seasons between 1993-98, and defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt was an assistant at Alabama, Auburn’s chief rival, for six seasons before coming to the Seminoles this year.

“It’s kind of ironic that I cut my teeth at Auburn in true Division I football,” Fisher said. “The first year we go undefeated, wire to wire and played some great games. But I was just learning how to coach in Division I, learning how to recruit, learning how to coach. As I look back at it now, I didn’t even know I didn’t know. I was just going about it, just full force, kind of like I was a freshman,

“I was a (FCS) coach, we had great success at Samford. But when you went Division I at that level in the (Southeastern Conference), Division I football is a different deal. We all just put our nose down and worked, and it’s amazing the success we had, great times, great friends, and as I say, it’s where I really cut my teeth and learned how to coach and learned how to recruit, and in that state of Alabama, you’d better know how to recruit and know how to handle your business, because it is a great football state and I have nothing but great aspirations for those times and great memories.”

Pruitt also earned his stripes in the state, first as a high school assistant, then at Alabama, learning under four-time national champion Nick Saban.

“When I was hired (at Alabama), I just wanted to be a part of an organization,” Pruitt said. “I wanted to go work for coach Saban. I wanted to be one of coach Saban’s guys,

“This is the fourth time in the last five years I’ve had an opportunity to be a part of the National Championship game, so I’ve been very blessed and very fortunate to be around really good programs, a lot of good guys, and just I’m excited to be around this group here. This is probably my favorite group I’ve ever been around.”

Lucky or good?

There’s been a perception that Auburn rode the luck of two big plays -- a field goal return for a touchdown to beat Alabama and a Hail Mary pass for a score to beat Georgia -- to play for its second national title during the past four seasons.

The players don’t look at it that way.

“Deep down inside, I don’t think we look at it as luck,” said junior center Reese Dismukes. “I mean, we went out and I think we rushed for nearly 300 yards against Georgia and Alabama that were not giving up that much at all. I think Alabama was No. 1 in rush defense, and Georgia was up there, too.

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“I mean, we know deep down inside while we win games, if it happens like it happens at the end of the game, then oh well. We’re just trying to win football games. All that matters at the end is the W.”